Thieves Target Homes' Brass Sprinkler Valves

YORK — Under the cover of darkness, thieves made off with brass valves from irrigation systems at several homes in the Lakes at Dare this week, and more thefts might have occurred in the Tabb area.

Some time overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, the brass valves - valued at about $100 apiece - were stolen from several homes located in the 800 block of Waterfowl Drive and another in the 100 block of Pleasant Dale Lane in the Taylor Farms subdivision, said Sgt. Dennis Ivey Jr., a York- Poquoson Sheriff's Office investigator.

More homes were possibly hit this week in the Tabb neighborhood, but officer reports are still coming in, so it's unclear whether the situation there is the same, Ivey said. He knew of no other neighborhoods experiencing similar problems.

So far, Ivey said one sprinkler valve was taken at each of three Lakes at Dare residences and the Tabb home.

Ivey speculated that the valves might have been stolen to resell for scrap, but the investigation has yet to confirm that.

Steven Savage, a Lakes at Dare homeowner's association board member, said Friday that a "back flow preventer" is located outside of each house and sticks up above the ground. The thieves are believed to have crept up late at night and cut one end of the valve and unscrewed the other to get them, he said.

He said residents were notified by e-mail of the thefts and the community's Neighborhood Watch had also been told, but he wasn't sure what else could be done to prevent more thefts.

"We'll just have to see what happens from here," he said. "I'm certainly not going to sit in my side yard waiting for these guys to sneak up."

Anyone who might have information is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888 LOCK-U-UP (562-5887).